The Worst Person in the World directed by Joachim Trier was awarded the Fiction Feature Prize and Flee, directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, took home the festival’s top Non-Fiction Competition prize at the 2021 Montclair Film Festival (MFF).
The festival’s Audience Award for Fiction Feature was awarded to Belfast directed by Kenneth Branagh and for Non-Fiction Feature was awarded to Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over directed by Dave Wooley.
“It has been incredibly moving to welcome audiences back to the movies and to feature the work of so many gifted artists who brought the world to us,” said Montclair Film Executive Director Tom Hall. “We thank and congratulate every single filmmaker in the festival, each of whom overcame the profound difficulties of our recent times to share their films with our community. We look forward with hope to the continued impact their films will make in the year ahead.”
2021 Montclair Film Festival Awards Winners
Feature Film Jury Awards
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD directed by Joachim Trier, was awarded the festival’s Fiction Feature Prize with Sebastian Meise receiving a Special Jury Prize for Directing for his film GREAT FREEDOM.
FLEE, directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, took home the festival’s top Non-Fiction Competition prize, the Bruce Sinofsky Award, in the festival’s Non-Fiction Feature competition. This award was established in memory of filmmaker and longtime Montclair resident Bruce Sinofsky.
WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY?, directed by Aleksandre Koberidze, was awarded the Mark Urman Award For Fiction Filmmaking in the festival’s Future/Now competition, featuring a $5000 cash prize, honoring early career filmmakers. This award was established in 2019 in memory of the film distribution executive Mark Urman, a longtime Montclair resident, and funded through Montclair Film’s Mark Urman Award Fund.
The Special Jury Prize for Visionary Filmmaking was awarded to Jane Schoenbrun for WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR.
KILI BIG, directed by Ida Joglar, took home the New Jersey Films Competition prize, with awarded a Special New Jersey Local Hero Humanitarian Award to Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, subject of MAYOR MOHAMED, directed by Jeffrey Togman.
Audience Awards
The festival’s Audience Award for Fiction Feature was awarded to BELFAST, directed by Kenneth Branagh
The Audience Award for Non-Fiction Feature was awarded to DIONNE WARWICK: DON’T MAKE ME OVER directed by Dave Wooley
The Audience Award for World Cinema was awarded to FLEE, directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen
The Audience Award for Short Film was awarded to LARRY & ME, directed by Lisa Melmed
David Carr Award
THE FIRST WAVE, directed by Matthew Heineman, took home the 7th Annual David Carr Award for Truth in Non-Fiction Filmmaking, which honors a filmmaker, selected by the festival, who utilizes exemplary journalistic techniques to explore important contemporary subjects and is presented in honor of Mr. Carr’s commitment to truth telling in reporting.
Junior Jury
Each year, The Montclair Film Festival welcomes the Junior Jury, made up of thirteen area High School students representing twelve area schools. The Junior Jury awarded their top prize to two films: THE SOUVENIR PART II, directed by Joanna Hogg, and THE INNOCENTS, directed by Eskil Vogt, will share the award.
Short Film Jury Awards
LILI ALONE, directed by Zou Jing, won the festival’s Fiction Short Film Competition, with a Special Jury Prize for Direction awarded to Nesaru Tchaas for SOME STILL SEARCH.
HAPPINESS IS A JOURNEY, directed by Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan won the festival’s Non-Fiction Short Film Competition. A Special Jury Prize for Awareness and Advocacy was awarded to R.I.P. T-SHIRTS, directed by David Heilbroner and Kate Davis.
SAFE, directed by Ian Barling, won the festival’s New Jersey Shorts competition, with a New Jersey Short Film Special Jury Prize of the Montclair Storyteller Award presented to Topaz Jones and rubberband., directors of DON’T GO TELLIN’ YOUR MOMMA.